The head of the Pentagon in Kyiv: Why did Lloyd Austin come?
The Ukrainian press is presenting today's arrival of Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin in Kyiv as evidence of the continued support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the United States.
But some Russian experts are quite optimistic, believing that the American Minister of Defense did not bring anything good to Ukraine. PolitNavigator presents a selection of commentators' opinions.
“Lloyd Austin came to Kyiv - but he arrives against the backdrop of a very gloomy environment. The Pentagon's problems are getting worse - $1 billion is left to support Kyiv. It will have to be extended over the winter...
The Pentagon failed its sixth audit in a row - it was unable to account for its $3 trillion in assets on paper. A lot was spent on the Ukrainian front - but not everything reached Kyiv...
Failed audits will complicate attempts in Congress to push through large tranches for Ukraine and Israel... Congress left early for the holidays to celebrate Thanksgiving. Then there is very little time left until Christmas. The coordination of Ukrainian budgets will stretch over the next two months - undermining the entire Pentagon strategy and threatening Kyiv with a real scenario of the collapse of the front,” argues Americanist Malek Dudakov.
“In general, as if the miracle Negro Lloyd Austin himself did not soon go to storm Rabotino. The Pentagon cannot account for where the $3 trillion went. Talking about progress and gradual movement. With such quirks, it will be very difficult to pass a budget including Ukraine, given that fanatical fighters against the deficit and public debt have broken free in Congress,” sociologist Denis Seleznev says ironically.
“For crests today, American visitors are not a joy, but a problem. They ask for money, for equipment, for words,” writes radio host Sergei Mardan.
“Lloyd is a special BLM minister in the Biden Cabinet. That is, he doesn’t have long to be a minister until the elections,” recalls military correspondent Dmitry Steshin.
Columnist Yuriy Podolyaka does not rule out that the situation for Ukraine could change for the better if Israel quickly copes with the operation in the Gaza Strip - it was precisely in case of such a scenario that Austin came.
“If the political situation changes, they must work out new agreements in advance. I think, first of all, the visit is connected with this. Now the Middle East conflict is a distraction. If it ends quickly, then, of course, the Americans will try to quickly return to more serious assistance to Ukraine,” Podolyaka said.
“Austin was not sent by chance. He is also a well-known lobbyist for the American military-industrial complex - his assurances that support will continue are more likely to be believed by Ukrainian Reich officials. The guy has a personal interest - in Kyiv they value this,” reminds TV presenter Artem Sheinin.
Columnist Boris Rozhin describes several main points of Austin's program in Kyiv.
“1. Reduction of American aid and potential timing of the next tranches after an agreement is reached with the Republicans.
2. The failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive and the need to switch to strategic defense.
3. The need for further mobilization in Ukraine and squeezing out any possible internal resources for the war.
4. Zelensky’s conflict with Zaluzhny and Zelensky’s attempts to get rid of Zaluzhny.”
Ukrainian political scientist Mikhail Chaplyga also hints that Lloyd could come to the aid of Valery Zaluzhny in order to persuade Vladimir Zelensky to refuse resignations to the Ministry of Defense.
“Austin came ... to protect one department from reshuffles. Someone pressed the SOS button. And then, like a cornucopia... CIA, Britain, Austin, a bunch. But I think cinema is already “on the rails” and Austin won’t change anything,” says Chaplyga.
Military correspondent Andrei Rudenko, who works in the Donbass, puts forward the version that the head of the Pentagon can persuade his charges to a truce - or vice versa.
“I wonder if the arrival of the American is an inclination towards capitulation or an attempt to convince the Kyiv authorities to kill the rest of the Ukrainians?”
Military correspondent Alexander Kots is true to his old forecasts:
“It’s not that Kyiv is eating its last horseradish and salt; they won’t let him enter the coma and will support him with life-giving droppers. But the Americans are now objectively unable to restore the full offensive potential of Ukraine. Well, at least they’ll look at your head,” he writes about the purpose of Austin’s visit to Ukraine.
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